Reversible hydraulic power unit



Jan. 22, 1963 H. A. GARRlsoN ETAL 3,074,687

REVERSIBLE HYDRAULIC RowER UNIT Y.

2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Oct. 28. 1960 FLUID RESERVOIR INVENTORS HARRY A. GARRISON GARRISON E. MURPHY JOHN E. MURPHY By 14:11.01 8 16101 Fig.

United States Patent 3,074,687 REVERSBLE HYDRAULC PGWER UNH Harry A. Garrison, 5309 Marlborough Drive, San Diego,

Calif.; Garrison E. Murphy, 650 Cabriilo Ave., Coronado, Calif.; and John E. Murphy, S309 Marlborough Drive, San Diego, Calif.

Filed Get. 28, i966, Ser. No. 65,847 2 Claims. (El. 253-23) The present invention relates generally to hydraulic motors and more particularly to a reversible hydraulic power unit.

The primary object of this invention is to provide a hydraulic power unit utilizing a unitary rotating member having a plurality of piston-like elements driven by lluid pressure in a toroidal chamber, the rotation being smooth and continuous and the speed being fully vari-able by controlling the ll-uid pressure.

Another object of this invention is to provide a hydraulic power unit in which the piston-like elements are double sided, so that the rotating member and power output shaft can be driven in either direction with equal eiciency.

Another object of this invention is to provide a hydraulic'power unit in which the piston-like elements have extended baffles to form pockets into which the hydraulic lluid is directed for maximum driving force.

A further object of this invention is to provide a hydraulic power unit which can be used as a motor, power transmission, or other device for converting fluid pressure into rotary power.

Finally, it is an object to provide a hydraulic power unit of the aforementioned character which is simple and convenient to manufacture and use and which will give generally efllcient and durable service.

With these and other objects definitely in view, this invention consists in the novel construction, combination and arrangement of elements and portions, as will be hereinafter fully described in the specifications, particularly pointed out in the claims, `and illustrated in the drawings, which form a material part of this disclosure, and in which:

FIG. l is a front elevation view of the power unit with one portion of the housing removed;

FIG. 2 is a sectional view taken on the line 2-2 of EFIG. l;

FIG. 3 is an enlarged fragmentary perspective view of a portion of the rotor and drive shaft; and

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary sectional view taken on the line d-d of FIG. 1, with the associated hydraulic system shown diagrammatically.

Similar characters of reference indicate similar or identical elements and portions throughout the specifications and throughout the views of the drawing.

The power unit comprises a housing 1d having an outer toroidal chamber l2 and a central hub ld connected to the toroidal chamber by spaced radial walls 16. Within the housing l@ is a rotor 18 comprising a disc `2li mounted on a shaft 22, which is freely rotatable in bearings 2d in the hub lli, the periphery of said disc carrying a plurality of piston-like elements which will be referred to herein simply as pistons 26 which are circumferentially spaced and rotate in the toroidal chamber l2. Each piston 26 is double sided, having opposed radial faces I28 and Sii extending diametrically to the cross section of the toroidal chamber l2, and each piston is provided with a piston ring 32, or multiple rings, for proper sealing. Each piston 26 has 4a baille 3d integral therewith, extending circumferentially from the face 28 on one side of and generally circumferentially of the disc 20 and having a curved edge extending from the outer edge of said face to the periphery of said baille being substantially a portion 3,d74,637 Patented Jan. 22, 1953 of a 'foroid to conform closely to the curved wall of the toroidal chamber on one side of the piston. A similar baffle 36 extends from the face 30 of each piston on the diametrically opposite side from the baille 34, and the two bales constitute opposed, scoop-like extensions of the pistons.

The disc 20 is iixed to the'shaft 22 by a spline 38, or similar means, for a direct driving connection. For convenience the housing 10 is made in two halves, divided diametrically on the center line normal to the axis of shaft 22, the halves 40 and 42 having radially projecting, paired lugs 44 which are secured together by bolts 46 and nuts 48.

The housing 'l1-alf 40 is provided with a iluid inlet port `50 angularly disposed on the side of the toroidal chamber 12 to direct fluid inwardly and circumferentially against the face 28 and baille 34 of each piston. The housing half 42 has a fluid outlet port 52 of the toroidal chamber 12 and circumferentially spaced from the inlet 50. The terms inlet and outlet are arbitrary and relative since the power unit is reversible by reversing the fluid llow, the original outlet then becoming the inlet. Fluid leakage inwardly toward the hub ld is prevented by means of 4annular sealing rings 54 recessed into the radical walls 16 inwardly of the toroidal chamber 12, said sealing rings riding on and sealing against the opposite faces of the disc 20.

The power unit is driven by pressurized lluid, a typical arrangement being illustrated diagrammatically in FIG. 4. A conventional type of pump 56 pumps fluid from a reservoir 5S, through a reversing valve 6d, to the inlet port Si?, the lluid returning from outlet port 52, through the valve, to said reservoir. Any suitable power source can be used to drive the pump 56. The fluid entering the inlet port Sti exerts pressure against the face 28 of the adjacent piston 26, the scoop effect of the baffle 34 greatly increasing the driving power of the lluid. As each piston 26 advances beyond the outlet port 52 the fluid escapes, the actual separation between inlet and outlet being determined by the lluid pressure and llow rate, the circumferential dimension and relative extent of each piston and other design factors in the engine. Also the angle of the inlet and outlet and the exact configuration of the bailles 34 and 36 will be determined by the particu'- lar flow characteristics. Since the pistons are dou-ble ended, the rotor l will be driven in either direction with equal eilciency, rotational speed being controlled virtually entirely by fluid llow rate, such as by a regulating valve.

The power unit can be used for many different purposes, a particularly useful application being in the prime mover of a vehicle. A single power unit can be used in place of the usual transmission and coupled to the driving Wheels by a differential gearbox. Alternatively, a separate unit may be attached to or built into the hub of each driven wheel. Since the speed is infinitely variable throughout the designed operating range, no gears are necessary, the throttle control being -a simple valve. An electric motor or internal combustion engine may be used to drive the pump 56 and, if necessary, a pressurized fluid reservoir can be used to provide emergency power in the event of engine failure.

The power unit is a smoothly operating driving means having a higher efficiency than the conventional vane or gear type hydraulic motors. The single rotating cornponent, the rotor 1S, may be made as a unitary structure, together with the pistons and ballles, reducing the total number of parts to -a minimum. By using piston rings on each piston, the fit of the pistons and bailles within the toroidal chamber is far less critical, the machining operations involved being greatly simplified.

Since no high temperatures are involved and wear is limited to the contact surfaces of the piston rings 32 and sealing -rings 54, the majorA portion of the structure may be of light alloy material. The drive portion of the unit is self-lubricating, the toroidal housing being iilled with the working fluid while in operation.

The operationof this invention willrbe clearly comprehended from ,a consideration of the foregoing description of the mechanical details thereof, taken in connection with the drawings and the Iabove recited objects. It will be obvious that all said objects are amply achieved by this invention.

It is understood that minor variation from the form of the invention disclosed herein may be made without departure from the spirit and scope of the invention, and that the specifications and drawings are to be considered as merely lillustrative rather than limiting.

We claim:

1, A hydraulic power unit, comprising: a housing having a toroidal chamber; a rotor disc freely rotatably mounted in said housing; said rotor disc having a plurality of circnmferentially spaced pistons extending substantially radially therefrom and fitting closely insaid toroidal chamber, each of said pistons being double sided and having opposed, substantially iiat faces; baies integral with said pistons and extending circumferentially a major portion of the dist-ance between adjacent pistons and extending from said opposed -faces on diametrically opposite sides of each piston; said toroidal housing havin-g a pair of Huid conducting ports circumferentially spaced posed to direct pressurized fluid against each piston and baffles, in one direction, as said rotor disc rotates; said baies being portions of .a toroid and conforming closely to the inner surface of said toroidal chamber; and said housing having annular sealing rings therein engaging the opposite faces'of said rotor disc radially inwardly of said pistons.

2. A hydraulic power unit according to claim 1 and wherein said major portion of the distance is substantially one-'half of the distance between adjacent pistons.

References Cited in the le of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 30' page 101. 

1. A HYDRAULIC POWER UNIT, COMPRISING: A HOUSING HAVING A TOROIDAL CHAMBER; A ROTOR DISC FREELY ROTATABLY MOUNTED IN SAID HOUSING; SAID ROTOR DISC HAVING A PLURALITY OF CIRCUMFERENTIALLY SPACED PISTONS EXTENDING SUBSTANTIALLY RADIALLY THEREFROM AND FITTING CLOSELY IN SAID TOROIDAL CHAMBER, EACH OF SAID PISTONS BEING DOUBLE SIDED AND HAVING OPPOSED, SUBSTANTIALLY FLAT FACES; BAFFLES INTEGRAL WITH SAID PISTONS AND EXTENDING CIRCUMFERENTIALLY A MAJOR PORTION OF THE DISTANCE BETWEEN ADJACENT PISTONS AND EXTENDING FROM SAID OPPOSED FACES ON DIAMETRICALLY OPPOSITE SIDES OF EACH PISTON; SAID TOROIDAL HOUSING HAVING A PAIR OF FLUID CONDUCTING PORTS CIRCUMFERENTIALLY SPACED ON OPPOSITE SIDES THEREOF; EACH OF SAID PARTS BEING DISPOSED TO DIRECT PRESSURIZED FLUID AGAINST EACH PISTON AND BAFFLES, IN ONE DIRECTION, AS SAID ROTOR DISC ROTATES; SAID BAFFLES BEING PORTIONS OF A TOROID AND CONFORMING CLOSELY TO THE INNER SURFACE OF SAID TOROIDAL CHAMBER; AND SAID HOUSING HAVING ANNULAR SEALING RINGS THEREIN ENGAGING THE OPPOSITE FACES OF SAID ROTOR DISC RADIALLY INWARDLY OF SAID PISTONS. 